Geoscience Education in an Irish Context: A Need for Research

Abstract

Perception and understanding of geoscience in Ireland by non -geoscientists ha ve no t been studied in depth, and an improvement in understanding how geoscience is perceived and engaged with will have significant impact on Ireland ’s ability to meet a range of challenges, including hotly d e- bated geoscience issues such as fossil fuel dependency, ra w mineral management, water security, and shale gas extraction (particularly fracking). Geoscience plays an important role in society, and the understanding of geoscience of an average Irish person will be based on formal education (at primary and secondar y level) and informal education through public outreach and news media. Geoscience is expanding in formal education and informal education is increasingly delivered o n- line. Geoscience education in Ireland has not been studied in detail, and a better unders tanding of the state of geoscience education could improve connections between geoscientists and non - geoscientists. This paper discusses the scope of potential research into geoscience education in Ireland that could and should be undertaken in order to b est understand and describe the state of geoscience education, and geoscience in society. Mixed -method research should be undertaken to study geoscience education at multiple levels and targeting multiple publics. This research into the state of geoscience education in Ireland would be valuable, to geoscientists and educators .